The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 227 The Dinsmore Branch 210 was chartered in 1937 with 15 charter members. The Branch very quickly became a very integral part of the community by sponsoring sports and field days, plays, dances, etc. It is of interest that back then, the dances started out charging 25 cents admission and made money at that time! Branch meetings were held in a shoe shop and when larger facilities were needed, they used the Orange Hall. The Branch held their own despite many of the younger members going off to war, but as peace was becoming a reality, a community Thanksgiving Service was held and a victory parade was held in Dinsmore in 1945. Once the war was over and all veterans returned, the re-organization of Dinsmore Branch began, which was on January 7, 1949. The Dinsmore Branch was given a couple of rooms for their own use in the Rink Arena. The rooms were given free-of-charge, but the Branch paid for the $10,000 worth of fire insurance each year to help the community. The Branch has been involved in many things such as a Scholarship program, bingos to raise money for the United Emergency Food for Britain Fund, and a boys’ club, which specialized in fitness and sports activities. The boys were housed in tents and the Legionnaires volunteered to cook, instruct and look after them. In 1954, the Cenotaph was erected in Dinsmore, largely due to Comrade Tip Hoffos who was President at the time. Trees and shrubs have since been planted. The Cenotaph was dedicated on November 11th, 1954. That year also the Dinsmore Branch changed its name to the Dinsmore-Wiseton Branch, which included our Comrades from Wiseton in name, as well as Comradeship. As a service club to the community, the Dinsmore Branch has been involved in too many programs to write about but some of them are as follows: Turkey shoots, variety shows, hospital wards, scholarships, sports days, boy scouts, cadets, ball teams, regional library, rink insurance, bar-be-ques, track and field sponsorship, donation of a hospital heart monitor, to mention a few who have received sponsorship from the Branch. Pee Wee Hockey has been an ongoing event for over 30 years. In 1979, our team entered the SAHA Provincial playoffs and became southern champions, so the Branch is very proud of them. The Branch currently has 15 ordinary and 5 associate members and is going strong. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO DINSMORE BRANCH 210 The Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Dinsmore Branch held its charter meeting on May 21, 1954. There were 18 charter members, five of whom are now residing in this area. Over the years, membership has been as high as 75 members. Their first project, 25 years ago, was a Civil Defence Survey, which covered a large area including Wiseton. Since then, they have been involved in various projects, some of which have been: Well Baby Clinic, monthly Board of Trade Banquets, Polio Clinics, TB Surveys. They donated the first television set to the hospital and have since provided various gifts. The Ladies’Auxiliary, together with the local Branch, also helped to furnish a ward in the hospital. They have sponsored an Essay Contest annually, and other annual projects include a Strawberry Social and a Poppy Day Tea. The Ladies’Auxiliary has enjoyed and appreciated a great deal of local support for any of their undertakings. Curling and golf are the two sports enjoyed by the Legion Auxiliary members, the object being to bring the members in closer contact in a friendly and competitive way. The curling is a competition on Zone, District and Provincial level, whereas golf was started in 1977 and is on a zone level only. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of Dinsmore Branch 210 disbanded their charter in 1990. DINSMORE BRANCH 210 The Central Butte Branch of the Legion evolved from the ‘Great War Veterans Association’ in the early 1920s. Meetings were held in the old Chinese Laundry building, with Bert Alcock as President and Vern Detlor as Secretary. The first November 11th banquet was held in Charlie Mulholland’s house. Later, the annual banquet was moved to the hotel, with Veterans from Riverhurst, Lawson, Mawer, and Central Butte taking part. It was customary to hold a dance following the dinner, and all proceeds would be donated to the Central Butte Hospital. Following the Second World War, Riverhurst and Central Butte each formed their own Branches as the growing membership warranted a Branch in each town. Central Butte now needed a Legion building, and in 1947, Dufton School was purchased and moved to its present site. In 1948, a twenty-foot addition was added to the front and the structure was placed on a cement foundation. These improvements were financed by social events and outright donations from members and the community at large. CENTRAL BUTTE BRANCH 213 (Cont’d...)
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